Sir John Monash Centre continues the story of Australian diggers on the Western Front

The memories of Australian diggers on the Western Front will be preserved, with a $8.3 million technology upgrade at the Sir John Monash Centre in France.

Set on the grounds of the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery and adjacent to the Australian National Memorial, the Sir John Monash Centre tells the stories of Australians who served on the Western Front in their own words.

Assistant Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Matt Thistlethwaite announced the technology upgrade while visiting the Centre.

“It’s a humbling experience to walk where so many of our diggers fought and died over a century ago.” 

“The Sir John Monash Centre plays an important role in the ongoing commemoration of the more than 295,000 Australians who served on the Western Front,” Assistant Minister Thistlethwaite said. 

The Centre uses cutting edge multi-media technology to provide visitors with an immersive experience that allows them to understand the story of Australians on the Western Front.

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Matt Keogh said the six-year funding commitment ensures the Sir John Monash Centre will continue to provide a state-of-the-art interpretive experience for visitors from around the world.

“Some 46,000 Australians lost their lives on the fields of Belgium and France during the First World War, this commitment will ensure their legacy and stories of their sacrifice live on,” Minister Keogh said.

To learn more about the Sir John Monash Centre, visit the Centre’s website https://sjmc.gov.au/

Archival footage of the Western Front supplied by the Australian War Memorial can be downloaded here: Western Front Footage